The New Zealand rugby will soon confirm the All Blacks will play their first official test in Japan.
The match will be played ahead of the November northern hemisphere tour at the end of the year, which includes tests against France, England and Ireland.
The chief executive of the NZRU Steve Tew says they are close to signing a deal with the Japan rugby union.
Tew says All Blacks coach Steve Hansen wants to use the Japan test to give younger players more test experience and will leave some of the more experienced players behind.
